This is one of the first mappa mundi to show the spice routes, both the Portuguese east route of Vasco da Gama (ca. 1460-1524), and the Spanish west route by Ferdinand Magellan (ca. 1480-1521). It is depicted the Tordesillas Meridian both on Brazil and at the opposite side of the world at the Philippines, that according to the Treaty of Zaragoza should belong to Portugal, as they are in the Portuguese hemisphere. Actually the Meridian is the center of the map and not Europe as in more common representations. The Maluku Islands are placed on the far left side of the map beyond the latitude line, together with the Equator, on a blank space, placing them under Spanish rule.

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This is one of the first mappa mundi to show the spice routes, both the Portuguese east route of Vasco da Gama (ca. 1460-1524), and the Spanish west route by Ferdinand Magellan (ca. 1480-1521). It is depicted the Tordesillas Meridian both on Brazil and at the opposite side of the world at the Philippines, that according to the Treaty of Zaragoza should belong to Portugal, as they are in the Portuguese hemisphere. Actually the Meridian is the center of the map and not Europe as in more common representations. The Maluku Islands are placed on the far left side of the map beyond the latitude line, together with the Equator, on a blank space, placing them under Spanish rule.

The territories are marked with coats of arms from the country administering it, mostly Portugal and Spain. Jerusalem is depicted as a Calvary. On Africa are the Elmina Castle -erected by the Portuguese in 1482 as Castelo de São Jorge da Mina- with some palm trees and in Congo there is the drawing of a catholic church, most probably Cathedral of the Holy Saviour of Congo, a simple church -named cathedral in 1596- initiated ca. 1491, under King João I of Portugal. On water masses there are eight vessels with the cross from the Order of Christ on their sails.

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The territories are marked with coats of arms from the country administering it, mostly Portugal and Spain. Jerusalem is depicted as a Calvary. On Africa are the Elmina Castle -erected by the Portuguese in 1482 as Castelo de São Jorge da Mina- with some palm trees and in Congo there is the drawing of a catholic church, most probably Cathedral of the Holy Saviour of Congo, a simple church -named cathedral in 1596- initiated ca. 1491, under King João I of Portugal. On water masses there are eight vessels with the cross from the Order of Christ on their sails.

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Note:

There are 26 32-point compass roses on the map with four of them being only half compass rose. The five bigger compass roses and the compass rose on the continent of Africa have a fleur de lis indicating north and the smaller ones have an arrow. The four big compass roses on each corner of the map have a cross indicating East. All are coloured red, blue, green and yellow. As for the rhumb lines, the principal winds are in black, the half-winds in green and the quarter-winds in red.

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There are 26 32-point compass roses on the map with four of them being only half compass rose. The five bigger compass roses and the compass rose on the continent of Africa have a fleur de lis indicating north and the smaller ones have an arrow. The four big compass roses on each corner of the map have a cross indicating East. All are coloured red, blue, green and yellow. As for the rhumb lines, the principal winds are in black, the half-winds in green and the quarter-winds in red.

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Note:

There are 12 scale lines on yellow borders. The author name and date of the map is also inside a yellow cartouche.

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There are 12 scale lines on yellow borders. The author name and date of the map is also inside a yellow cartouche.

Note

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Note:

There are three latitude lines on the map, one on each side of the map and one as the Meridian from the Tordesillas Treaty. All coloured white and blue interchangeably.

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There are three latitude lines on the map, one on each side of the map and one as the Meridian from the Tordesillas Treaty. All coloured white and blue interchangeably.